Antonia Iazzetti

Dibenzo[a,c]carbazoles from 2-(2-bromoaryl)-3-arylindoles via a palladium-catalyzed intramolecular C-H functionalization/C-C bond formation process

The palladium-catalyzed cyclization of 2-(2-bromoaryl)-3-arylindoles provides a new versatile approach to dibenzo[a,c]carbazoles. The reaction tolerates a variety of useful substituents including chloro, nitro, ether, cyano, keto, and ester groups.

Construction of the 1,5-Benzodiazepine Skeleton from o-Phenylendiamine and Propargylic Alcohols via a Domino Gold-Catalyzed Hydroamination/Cyclization Process.

The gold-catalyzed reaction of o-phenylendiamine with propargylic alcohols affords 1,5-benzodiazepines bearing different substituents on the 2 and 4 positions. The method allows even for the selective preparation of 4-substituted 1,5-benzodiazepine derivatives.

Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of 2-amino ketones from propargylic carbonates and secondary amines

A novel palladium-catalyzed approach to 2-amino ketones from arylpropargylic carbonates bearing neutral, electron-rich, and electron-poor aromatic rings and cyclic secondary amines containing useful functional groups such as cyano, chloro, and bromo substituents has been developed.

Functionalized 2,3-dihydrofurans via palladium-catalyzed oxyarylation of α-allyl-β-ketoesters

The palladium-catalyzed reaction of (hetero)aryl bromides, chlorides, and nonaflates with α-allyl-β-ketoesters provides ready efficient access to functionalized 2,3-dihydrofurans. The reaction tolerates several useful substituents including chloro, fluoro, ether, ketone, ester, cyano, and nitro groups.

Design, Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis, and Biological Investigation of 2-Substituted 3-Aroylquinolin-4(1H)-ones as Inhibitors of the Hedgehog Signaling Pathway

2-Substituted 3-aroylquinolin-4(1H)-ones, prepared through a palladium-catalyzed carbonylative cyclization of N-(2-iodoaryl)enaminones, proved to inhibit efficiently the Hedgehog pathway through direct antagonism of the wild-type and drug-resistant form of the Smoothened receptor. Notably, these compounds repressed the Hh-dependent growth events and the proliferation of tumor cells with aberrant activation of the Hh pathway, which plays a crucial role in development and tumorigenesis.

Chemical, computational and functional insights into the chemical stability of the Hedgehog pathway inhibitor GANT61

Abstract This work aims at elucidating the mechanism and kinetics of hydrolysis of GANT61, the first and most-widely used inhibitor of the Hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathway that targets Glioma-associated oncogene homologue (Gli) proteins, and at confirming the chemical nature of its bioactive form. GANT61 is poorly stable under physiological conditions and rapidly hydrolyses into an aldehyde species (GANT61-A), which is devoid of the biological activity against Hh signalling, and a diamine derivative (GANT61-D), which has shown inhibition of Gli-mediated transcription. Here, we combined chemical synthesis, NMR spectroscopy, analytical studies, molecular modelling and functional cell assays to characterise the GANT61 hydrolysis pathway. Our results show that GANT61-D is the bioactive form of GANT61 in NIH3T3 Shh-Light II cells and SuFu−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts, and clarify the structural requirements for GANT61-D binding to Gli1. This study paves the way to the design of GANT61 derivatives with improved potency and chemical stability. Graphical Abstract

Synthesis of indolo[1,2-c]quinazolines from 2-alkynylaniline derivatives through Pd-catalyzed indole formation/cyclization with N,N-dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal

An efficient strategy for the synthesis of 6-unsubstituted indolo[1,2-c]quinazolines is described. The Pd-catalyzed reaction of o-(o-aminophenylethynyl) trifluoroacetanilides with Ar–B(OH)2 afforded 2-(o-aminophenyl)-3-arylindoles, that were converted to 12-arylindolo[1,2-c]quinazolines by adding dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal (DMFDMA) to the reaction mixture after extractive work-up. This reaction outcome is different from the previously reported Pd-catalyzed sequential reaction of the same substrates with Ar–I, Ar–Br and ArN2 +BF4 −, that afforded 12-arylindolo[1,2-c]quinazolin-6(5H)-ones. Moreover, 12-unsubstituted indolo[1,2-c]quinazolines can be obtained both by reacting 2-(o-aminophenyl)indoles with DMFDMA or by sequential Pd-catalyzed reaction of o-(o-aminophenylethynyl)aniline with DMFDMA.